Stephen Colbert asks The Late Show's Melania Trump about the state of her union
For the first time that anyone can remember, the first lady traveled to the State of the Union without the president, Stephen Colbert noted on Wednesday's Late Show. "So the state of our union is strong. The state of their union? It's complicated." He ran through some of the scuttlebutt about Melania Trump's white pantsuit, and her possible anger stemming from President Trump's alleged affair and hush-money payout to Stormy Daniels. "Apparently, the reports of a payoff blindsided the first lady," Colbert said, quoting The New York Times. "Not the sex, the payoff. He never pays anyone."
The first lady also bowed out of Trump's trip to Davos at the last minute, citing "scheduling and logistical issues," fueling speculation of discord. "Of course, scheduling issues — she couldn't go with him because hell hadn't frozen over yet," Colbert joked. Instead she flew to Mar-a-Lago and relaxed at the spa. "She got a Japanese massage, I think it's called shehatesyou," he said. "So, is Melania Trump at the end of her rope? Let's go straight to the source" — in this case The Late Show's Melania Trump stand-in, Laura Benanti.
The Late Show's Melania told Colbert about her outfit, her anniversary presents, why the rumors of Trump's infidelity are "fake news," and how she was "glued to her seat" during Trump's State of the Union speech. "I cannot wait to vote in next presidential election," she said. "For your husband?" Colbert asked. "Oh, of course — unless I have scheduling and logistical issues," she replied. Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
White House withdraws Trump's spending freeze
Speed Read President Donald Trump's budget office has rescinded a directive that froze trillions of dollars in federal aid and sowed bipartisan chaos
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Washington DC plane crash: how did mid-air collision happen?
Today's Big Question Experts struggle to explain how sophisticated airspace control system failed to prevent deadly disaster
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Merchant of Venice: 'nothing short of gripping'
The Week Recommends John Douglas Thompson is 'magisterial' as Shylock
By The Week UK Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published